Netflix to set own official UK age ratings under BBFC system

Netflix is to set the official UK age ratings for its own films and shows using a new algorithm that will mean its entire catalogue has a rating.

Until now, ratings such as PG, 12 and 18 have been set by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

Netflix will become the first company to determine ratings that will be given the BBFC seal of approval.

Netflix will manually tag things like violence and swearing and the algorithm will pick the appropriate age rating.

A BBFC spokeswoman said: “This is the first time that the BBFC have collaborated with a content provider and put together a scheme that will eventually mean that they will rate their own content. This content will then receive a BBFC rating.

“The content will be viewed by a person, however the classification decision will be made digitally from the tags that the viewer inputs in to the system.

“Therefore if the content contains violence at a particular point it will be tagged as such and these tags will form the basis of the final rating.”